Graduate Studies

Business Administration
2015-2016

Chairperson: William Polley
Office: Stipes 101
Telephone: (309) 298-2442
E-mail: WJ-Polley@wiu.edu
Website: wiu.edu/buscertificate
Location of Program Offering: Macomb, Quad Cities, Online

Program Description

The post-baccalaureate certificate program in Business Administration is intended to prepare students for career advancement in business by providing a background in the strategic business skill areas of accounting, finance, management and marketing. The Business Administration Certificate is also well-suited for someone interested in a graduate business education but is unsure of making a commitment to complete the full 33 semester hour Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program. The Business Administration Certificate can be completed online or through face-to-face courses at the Macomb or Quad Cities campuses.

Students who choose to complete the Business Administration Certificate may apply hours earned in the certificate towards a WIU MBA degree. Please note that certificate students who wish to pursue the WIU MBA degree must meet the entrance requirements for the MBA program.

Requirements for Enrollment

Applicants to the Business Administration Certificate program must have a bachelor’s degree and meet one of the following criteria:

  • A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (or a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.3 over the last 60 semester hours), OR
  • An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 and significant acceptable work experience/career relevance (please include a letter from the applicant describing his/her experience and the relevance of the certificate to his/her career goals), OR
  • Meet the criteria for acceptance into the WIU Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.

Students must also be able to meet the prerequisites of the courses required in the certificate program.

Certificate Requirements

FIN 565 Financial Management: Theory and Practice (3)
MKTG 576 Decision Making for Global Markets (3)
ACCT 547 Corporate Financial Reporting and Analysis (3)
MGT 520 Organizational Behavior and Leadership (3)

TOTAL: 12 s.h.

Course Descriptions

Accounting (ACCT)

547 Corporate Financial Reporting and Analysis. (3) An analysis of corporate financial reports and other disclosures with emphasis on how this information can be used for making investment and credit decisions. This course will also consider the impact of accounting choice decisions on financial reporting and analysis. Not open to undergraduate or graduate accountancy students. Prerequisite: ACCT 307 or equivalent.

Finance (FIN)

565 Financial Management: Theory and Practice. (3) An advanced course in corporate financial management intended to provide a conceptual framework for analyzing the major types of decisions made by financial executives. Topics dealing with the acquisition and administration of corporate capital will be discussed in an applied setting stressing their relevance to practical problems in financial management. Case studies and team written reports are used to provide students with an opportunity to apply known concepts and principles to realistic situations. Prerequisites: FIN 331 or equivalent.

Management (MGT)

520 Organizational Behavior and Leadership. (3) Examines theory and research on the behavioral and conceptual skills accounting for managerial effectiveness in modern complex organizations, with an emphasis on leadership skill building. Special topics include understanding power and influence processes, managerial communication responsibilities, empowerment and motivational strategies, developing productive teams, managing culture, the human implications of technology, organizational change and development, and creating learning organization, among other current topics. Prerequisite: MGT 349 or equivalent.

Marketing (MKTG)

576 Decision Making for Global Markets. (3) Integrative analysis and study of ethical marketing decision making strategies of industries and organizations in the international/global environment. All topics emphasize an integrative approach of world class marketing planning with organizational structure to optimally serve customer needs and expectations at home and abroad. Not available to students with credit in MKTG 566 or MKTG 586. Prerequisite: MKTG 327 or equivalent.